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BREAKING: The FIRST OFFICIAL "quiet category" paddle, released

BREAKING: The FIRST OFFICIAL "quiet category" paddle, released

PLUS: Pickleball scholarships are now a thing + the step-back rule for better offense

November 15, 2023

Welcome back, picklers.

Read time: 5 min

Since 2016, the men’s singles champion has either been Johns or McGuffin.

7 years later, their reign ends as we crown a new champion.

J.W. Johnson…we bow to you. You are the new KING of men’s singles.

TODAY’S MENU

Daily Scoop: The 1st official “quiet category” paddle, released
News Stash: Drury Uni announces pickleball scholarships. The Golden Bachelor shows up to Pickleball Championships. TaylorMade Golf’s own pickle ball.
Sizzling Skills: The step-back rule for better offense
Kitchen Talk: The unnecessary-necessary pickleball acessories people are buying

DAILY SCOOP

Big Deal: The 1st official “quiet category” paddle, released

Noise. We talk about it a lot in this newsletter because well… it’s a problem that’s reached its boiling point.

But thankfully, where there is a problem, there is a superhero to save the day.

A brand new company has entered the scene and has debuted a paddle that is different than all the rest (no, seriously).

Hint: It’s “officially” quiet. 🤫

So what makes it “official”?

USA Pickleball revealed to the world that it is adding a “quiet category” for recreational pickleball equipment.

BUT…the certification process is not an easy one.

This brand new paddle has passed the test.

So what’s the deal, man?

OWL Sport, a new paddle company hoping to solve the noise problem, grabbed the problem by the pickleballs and created the first-ever paddle that is compliant with USA Pickleball quiet category criteria.

The paddle specifics (The Owl CX & PX Series)

Delivers hertz level below 600 & decibel level under 80
- A normal paddle: about 1,100 hertz & 85+ decibels
Does not compromise performance
Offers 13mm & 16mm elongated handle options
Paddle Face: Proprietary Acoustene Composite
Core material: Polypropylene Honeycomb
Edge Guard: Woven Acoustene (patent pending)

There are currently 4 available options, all priced at $169 plus tax.

For now, this is the first of its kind, and big brands like Selkirk will soon release their own versions as well.

To OWL, good for you. It is still too soon to tell how the community accepts your paddle or its true long-term effects. But hopefully, it’ll at least dampen some of the complaints in the near future.

NEWS STASH

Drury University now offering pickleball scholarships

Happenings: Oh, how I wish to be 18 again and applying for college.

In college news, Drury University announced that it will be launching a co-ed intercollegiate pickleball team in 2024-2025, recruiting now and tapping head tennis coach Jarrod Smith to lead. Also, Drury is building dedicated courts set to open in 2024, among the first on a college campus.

Luckily for near-future college applicants who love the sport, the program will offer scholarships as well.

Pickleball in exchange for a college degree? Now, that’s a win-win.

Gerry Turner trades roses for paddles at Pickleball Championships

Happenings: Gerry Turner, star of ABC's "The Golden Bachelor," delighted fans by trading roses for pickleballs, appearing at the USA Pickleball National Championships amid his show's airing.

PR stunt? Probably. But smart of the marketing team for making it happen.

The 72-year-old widower, who plays pickleball in his Indiana hometown, rallied with pros, handed out medals, and signed autographs. Turner's love of the sport, which he calls the "perfect activity," has been featured on the reality show.

Though America awaits who he'll pick as a partner in life, we must thank Gerry for bringing bright lights to the awesome sport of pickleball.

TaylorMade Golf enters into the pickle ball business…well, kinda

Happenings: Touché, TaylorMade. We applaud you for your genius marketing skills.

In celebration of National Pickle Day, TaylorMade Golf decided to release a new golf ball covered with none other than…pickles.

And they called it, you guessed it, pickle balls.

With the sub-headline on its product page, A Better Kind of Pickle Ball, it definitely felt like a subtle dig, but hey, we will bow our paddles down to you and give you this one.

👏🏼👏🏼